21
Jack was in shock, silently helping Ianto with his coat as Gwen continued to scream and rant about the lies Ianto told, Elizabeth tiring to tell her to shut up, she had seen the scan already. It was a boy and she had revelled in the knowledge for weeks.
Gwen gaped, then howled.
They drove home to the new house that felt like a fortress, Ianto moving straight to his quarters and intending to hide for the rest of the bloody week but Jack was right behind him.
"Did you know?"
"What?" Ianto turned with confusion.
"When we did the post-nup. Did you know I was signing away a son?" Jack demanded, Ianto feeling his hackles rise before forcing himself to see it from Jack's point of view.
"No. I did not, that was … Jack. I have no intention of taking him from you. That post-nup was for me to feel more secure here. Don't you see? It you do not see that I want to be with you then you deserve the silly cow I can hear screaming in the other wing" Ianto huffed. "Twypsn."
"A boy" Jack breathed, "Gods. You've been trying to find a way to tell me haven't you but she keeps raining on your parade."
"More like pissing on it from a great height" Ianto snorted, "Practically lifting her skirts each time she sees me coming."
Jack was laughing, unable to remove himself from the image as he shook his head, "Ianto. I am sorry. This is so hard, so many plates spinning and … I can only apologise."
"What do you want?"
"What?"
"Jack, Cariad. What is it you want? You. Not her, me ... anyone else. What do you want!" Ianto prodded and Jack was stumped, slumping into a chair to consider things as he rubbed at his face.
"I want to meet you at a beach party, your bare feet sinking into the sand. You flirt with me but play hard to get at the same time. That first night we meet we make love there in the sand dunes with my coat to protect from the sand you bemoan will get into every crack. We still find sand on the floor the next morning after I follow you to your hut and we shag like rabbits." Jack said dreamily, "I catch fish and you tutor the children of the village, we live simply and cleanly. We hold one another every night, our child born in a storm with his little cries a balm to soothe us. Morning brings sunshine and the sound of gulls as we snuggle in the bed, just the three of us. That's what I would like" Jack snorted, "But life is not that easy."
Ianto sighed as he considered before answering.
"I would like to walk in the woods, bare feet sinking into mossy ground and leaves falling. The sound of birds and life, hand and hand. Baby in a front pack on my chest as you walk slightly ahead, looking back to check I am OK and you lead me over the small rocks and such on the trail where we finish at the little riverside spot where we picnic while our boy sleeps on the rug, we kiss and mess about a bit. We walk back to the hover in the late afternoon air, cooling slightly so you place your arm around me and we kiss before you help me into my seat, the baby into his pod then you drive us home singing softly to help ease the baby in his slumber." Ianto whispered softly as he let his hands fall onto Jack's where they rested on his knees, "Just you, me and our son. The entire world falling away in the moment of peace."
"Sounds nice" Jack smiled, "Ianto … we can have that. Days where it's just us."
"But then Gwen will be waiting to demand we tell her where we went, complain the baby might be ill from the damp and steal him away… blah blah" Ianto sighed, Jack laughing as he let his hands slip onto Ianto's pulling him in for a kiss.
"I love you" Jack whispered, "I didn't understand true love until you. I always wanted you, before I even knew you existed … I wanted you."
"As did I, but I didn't expect you to come with such noise and bluster" Ianto smiled, sighing again as he realised he had forgiven this man he belonged to heart and soul. "Jack, she has to back off. I am uncomfortable with her anger. She is getting worse and… it's not good for me or the bump. I am still feeling unsafe, I do not think she is true to the treatment the judge imposed with the docotrs."
"I agree, I have considered sending her to her parentals for a wee visit, what do you think?"
"She will have a cow" Ianto snorted. "Really? You would do that for me? Incur such wrath?"
"I believe I would, my love, for you I would throw myself on the sword and actually piss her off for you" Jack said with a straight face. "She might even stop breathing."
Ianto smiled, "Cariad. Let's move forward."
"Together?"
"Yes."
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OK Monday, I work from 8am today until 5.30pm so you can ask for a second chap all ya like, I will be unable to get to the laptop to deliver. so, as you might die otherwise ... I give a second now. OK? That's it. Peace out!